Tank cleaner



E. J. HAHN TANK CLEANER April 19 1927.

Filed May 5, 1925 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES-- EDWARD J. HAHN, OF GBIDLEY, KANSAS.

TANK CLEANER.

Application filed key 5,

This invention relates to a tank cleaner,- and particularly to aconstruction by which the sediment or sludge which collects at the bottom of a tank may be agitated and moved toward a chute or passage so that the tank may be thoroughly and conveniently cleaned before being refilled.

In the use of a storage tank for oil or other liquids the standing body deposits more or less sediment adjacent the bottom of the tank and under some conditions abody of thicker liquid collects at that must be separately collected. he cleaning of such a tank manually involves delay, in-

E5 convenience and dangerowing to the pres; ence of collected gas therein, while previous constructions for mechanically effecting such cleaning have involved much manual labor and failed to secure effective results within a minimum time and by a simple operation.

To obviate these objections I have provided a blade member disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank and rotated therein to loosen any collected sediment and carrying chute or passage leading from the base of the tank. Such heavier collected matter will not normally flow to a discharge open ing' and must be bodily scraped or moved into the discharge chute from which it may be withdrawn or flushed out as found most convenient.' It has also been found desirable to adjust the blade vertically relative to the bottom of the tank to properly act upon the material at that point, and further to provide a tank structure especially adapted to support such a cleaning device at its center so that the swee of the cleaning blade may efi'ect a practice ly complete action over the bottom of the tan The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction comprising a rotatable shaft adapted to be sup ported within a tank and rovided with a laterally projectedblade disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of a tubular rotating shaft having an inner shaft carrying the blade which is vertically adjustable upon the rotating shaft to vary the distance of said blade to the bottom of the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provides, special form of tank for supporting such a c caning device and involving a bearoint which 'with it any oil unfit for use'to a discharge 1828. Serial K0. 28,188.

ing at the base of the tank and a cooperatmg bearing at the top thereof, together with bracing means extending from the sides of the tank to the upper bearing.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a tank having the invention applied thereto;

=F1gure 2 is a detail perspective ofthe blade connection with its adjusting rod;

Figure 3 is a similar view of the lower end of the rotating shaft;

Figure 4 is a detail section of the upper end of said shaft with the adjusting means for the rod; and

Figure 5 isa. detail elevation of the pawl and ratchet driving mechanism for rotating the shaft.

Like reference characters designate cor responding parts throughout the several views. I

The invention is applicable to any type of 80 tank or container and is particularl designed for use in connection with an oi tank in which there is a collection from the standmg 011 of more or less sediment or hea material adjacent the bottom thereof whicl should be periodically removed to preveiit its remixture with the contents of the upper portion of the tank through any agitation due to refillin the tank. This removal or cleaning may e effected when the tank is empty or even if the tank be filled, as the superposed body of liquid would act under such conditions to force the collected sedi-' went from the discharge chute.

In the application of the invention shown, 95 the tank 10 is of the usual construction havmg the base or bottom 11 and the top 12. This base i. formed at any desired point with a downwardly inclined dischar chute or passage 13 which extends radial from the center of the tank and is close at'its outer end by a removable head 14 where a suitable draw-off book 15 may be provided. The base of the tank has at its center a bearing step 16 u on which the lower end of the tubular driving shaft 17 is supported in y means any preferred manner, for instance of the conical bearing 18 threaded into the end of the shaft 17 as shown in Fi re 3. The lower. portion of this shaft is rther 1 within a bearing 22 carried by the top 12 of the tank and also has keyed thereon a bevel gear 23 for the purpose of rotating the shaft. The rod 21 is threaded at its upper end 24 and extends above this bearing so as to receive a threaded nut or collar member 25 hearing at its lower end upon ,the gear and top of the shaft 17. This nut is provided with a hand hold 26 by which it may be rotated for the purpose of adjusting the blade, as will be obvious.

Numerous means may be provided for rotating the shaft 17 through the gear 23 and one form is herein shown where a bevel gear 27 meshes with the gear 23 and has its extended shaft 28 supported in a bearing standard 29. This shaft carries a ratchet gear or wheel 30'secured thereto and adapted to be operated in opposite directions by means'of a double pawl 31 carried by the lever 32 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 28. As shown in Figure 5 this pawl ivoted at 33 and held in its opposite shi ted positions by means of a tension spring 34. It will be seen that a reciprocatory motion of the lever transmits a rotary -escape of of a series by 'pipbs apparent from the foregoin drive to the shaft. and blade or paddleoperatedthereby.

In mounting the cleaning device in a tank it is desirable to provide bracin members for the upper or driven ends '0 the shaft at its connection with the tank to and for that purpose a series of brace ro s 35 may be secured to the side walls of the tank and are formed with diagonally disposed 'portions 36 extending to the axis of the tank -.where the bearin 1 22 for the shaft is secured. This bearin and the driving mechanism may be suite 1 enclosed by a casin 37 .and tlie tank is 1fbrmed vdvith the usulili openings 0 accesst ereto an to permit-t e llected gas. As shown in Fi is connected with other tan 38 at opposite sides thereof, while the usual pipe line connection 39is 'pr'ovldedat the lower portion of the tank and the-ladder 40'extends downward from the man hole 41'.

The operation of the invention will be description from which it will be seen t at a rotary movement of the blade will force the vheavy ure lthe material or liquid adjacent thebottom of the tank toward and into the discharge chute therefrom while the blade or paddle for this purpose may be adjusted so as to lie in proper relation to the bottom of the tank without contacting therewith which would involve damage tothe parts.

While the specific construction of the several parts has been shown and described, still the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is: i 1. A cleaning device for tanks comprising a'rotatable shaft adapted to' be supported therein, a blade laterally projecting from the lower end of the shaft and disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank, and means disposed at the upper end of said shaft for adjustiw the blade longitudinally thereof. 2. A c eaning device for tanks comprisin a rotatable shaft adapted to be supported therein, a blade laterally projecting from shaft, and means at the upper end of said shaft for adjusting said 'rod and blade.-.

5. A cleaning device for tanks comprising a tubularshaft, 'means for rotating sai shaft, an adjusting rod therein, a blade cari ried by said rod and extending throu h said 1 y shaft, and a nut member engaging t e upper end of said shaft and threa ed upon said rod to adjust the same vertically. I

6. A cleaning device for tanks comprising 3 a tubular shaft provided at its lower o 116' tion with an elongated slot a bearing carried by the lower end of said shaft, an adjustin rod within said shaft,'and a blade exten in through id; lqt and secured t said 1220,

ro a

7. A cleaning device for tanks comprising a tubular shaft slotted at its lower end, an adjusting rod within said shaft, 9. blades:- tendin through the slot of thefshaft and secur end of the shaft for adjusting saidvr a gear secured to then per portion of said shaft, a cooperating nving gear mesh' with the shaft gear, a ratchet wheel sec said rod and extending through 100 to said rod, means at the upper) to the shaft of the gear, and a lever loosely mounted upon 'said shaft and provided with a paw to engagesaid ratchet wheel.

at the top bearing thereof, a rod disposed within said shaft and a blade carried by the lowerend of said rod and extended laterally to travel over substantially the entire base area of the tank.

9. A1t'ank provided with a bearing at its base, a shaft mounted thereon and supported at its upper end by a bearing at the tank top, means for rotating said shaft disposed at the top bearing thereof, a blade extending from the lower end of said shaft to travel parallel to the tank bottom, and a radial discharge chamber beneath the bottom of said tank and open at its top to communieate there- With. s

In testimony whereof I aflix my si aturei EDWARD J 'H HN. 

